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Uruguay diversifies energy mix with 530 MW combined cycle plant

January 3 2013 -
TI Staff

mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin\">Uruguay is planning to construct a 530 MW combined cycle gas power plant to reduce the vulnerability of the country’s energy system, and the Inter-American Development Bank has approved a loan of 200 million dollars to help diversify the energy mix in an environmentally sustainable manner. The new plant with a total cost of 740 million dollars will reduce the vulnerability of the energy system in years when low rainfall affects hydroelectric generation.

mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin\">The loan will finance the construction of the combined-cycle Punta del Tigre “B” power plant, complementary works, and support for an environmental management program for the National Electricity Generation and Transmission Authority (UTE), a decentralized state agency charged with ensuring sustainable electrical service in Uruguay.

mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin\">The Punta del Tigre “B” plant, the country’s first combined-cycle facility, will be built on the same site as Punta del Tigre “A” plant. The site is served by a gas pipeline from the Cruz del Sur pipeline, which will be connected to a future re-gasification plant for the supply of natural gas to the new plant. The plant is located in Colonia Wilson, Department of San Jose, 40 kilometers west of Montevideo.

The total investment in the construction of the Punta del Tigre “B” plant is 741.2 million. Also participating in the project are the Andean Development Corporation, with 180 million; Germany’s KfW, with 70 million; and UTE, with 291.2 million.